Help with a pool.

Agamemnon

Agamemnon

25+ Posts
Just bought a house with a pool (in ground). It's the first pool I've owned, personally. I "took care" of a pool as life guard when I was in college but really, I didn't pay too much attention then. That being said, I've signed up with Leslie's Pools for a class where they come out and teach you as well as go over your equipment and teach you how to use that, too.

Here's some questions that I hope y'all can help with:

1. anyone have any experience with Leslie's Pools? Good or bad, please let me know.
2. my class isn't for a week and while I have plenty of chlorine in the dispenser and the skimmer/vacuum running at required times, with all the rain we've been having in Houston should I be doing something else as far as shocking it? The chlorine level is good enough however I don’t know the pH balance. The water is clear enough.
3. with all the recent rain we've had in Houston the pool is quite full. Seems there is about 3 to 4 inches of extra water in the pool. Should I drain it a little or let it evaporate - is this even an issue? In addition, does this keep the skimmer from being effective.

Any suggestions/advice to keep me worry-free until next week is welcome. Thanks!
 
Do you have a water test kit? That should tell you if your ph and total alkalinity are good. I'd probably drain the excess water--too much water will keep your skimmers from working properly. Leslie's has been around a long time and has a ton of locations and taking care of a pool isn't rocket science so I'm sure they are qualified to teach you how to do it--that being said I'm sure it is entirely dependent on who comes out to teach you how to take care of your pool but I'd say the odds are good that he/she will be competent.
 
If you don't know how to backwash with this pump I would just wait until they come out to adjust the water level. Also, if the water looks clear there probably isn't any urgency to shock the pool. Just keep the chlorine level up and you should be fine.

RR
 
1) get the best testing kit you can
2) locate the nearest Self-Chem in your area as they will for free run detailed analysis of your pool water (eventually it WILL get out of whack)
3) Join Costco to buy you pool supplies like Chlorine and shock at a discount and load up at the end of summer when they start to get rid of the inventory
4) pray you never get algae.....
 
for the sake of just me wanting to know, what happens when one gets algae? is it really that hard to get rid of?
 
As long as you keep the right Ph level and don't try to cut corners on chlorine, algae should never be a problem. If however you do end up with an algae problem, just remember that enough chlorine will kill almost anything.
 
I bought a house with a pool 2 years ago and was a bit worried about it. turns out, it is really pretty easy to deal with. Here is some advice...

1) buy the test strips that you just have to dip into the pool and can read in 10 seconds. the test tube that you fill up and put the drops in is just too much damn trouble and you wont check it as often as you should.

2) In the wintertime, pool maint is pretty easy as the chlorine does not cook off very quickly. In the summer, you really have to ramp up your chlorine input. In the winter i put about 3 tabs in the skimmer every week. Right now, i have 5 in there and my levels are still a little low. (25k gallon, 35'x16' rectangular diving pool)

3) I use the excess water from rain to backwash my filter. I only backwash when the level is high enough to give it a good cleaning. I dont want to pay to fill the pool just to run it down the drain.

4) dont worry about this week--just put some tabs in there and if it starts to get cloudy fire in a couple pounds of shock. they guys will get your pH and alkalinity right when they come out and once these are set, your chlorine level will be pretty stable.

5) I keep my chlorine level about 3x the recomended level. this is probably bad for the equipment but it gives you some headroom if you cant clean it for a while of if you get a lot of rain, etc.

6) I think the most important thing to keeping a pool looking nice is making sure to brush the sides regularly. about once a week in the summertime i take 10 mins to brush down the sides and shock the pool. this way the algae never has a chance to catch hold. the polaris helps out a lot here.

7) dont sweat the algae. If you get it, go to the pool store and tell them what color the water is and they give you magic potion to fix it. I have had mustard algae a couple times and you just need a special chemical to get rid of it. I tried to just shock the **** out of the pool first time i got it but that just pissed it off and it came back 10x worse. got the chemical and ran the filter for 24 hours and the problem was gone.

8) leaves are a *****. hope you dont have trees overhanging the pool like i do. if you do, experiment with the water level to find out where the skimmer works most efficiently. I have about a 1.5 inch band where the skimmer does a really good job of clearing the surface. In the fall i have to empty the basket 2x per day.

9) I would estimate that i spend ~1hr / week messing with the pool over the course of my ownership.

10) ***Important*** Dont handle chlorine tabs in clothes that you care about. the powder that comes off them will bleach whatever it comes in contact with instantly. I have ruined about 10pairs of shorts this way.

If you are in Houston, I recommend Butchers pool supply on Richmond just inside the loop. They are very knowledgable and somewhat friendly.
 
Get a Nature2 in-line chemical cartridge. It will cut your chlorine use in half.

Buy it on-line and not at pool stores . . . save about $50.
 
Thanks for all the info everyone. Lots of good info here. I have some other questions concerning the vacuum unit but I'm going to spend some time looking over the manuals and all that first.
 
2 or 3 cold beers will make pool maintenance much easier.
a home test kit is good for chlorine and ph. have your water tested at a facility for hardness, metals and alkalinity every 2 weeks or so.
hookem.gif
 
Think economically...I have a pool service that costs me $69/month. I chose the service route versus doing it myself after I ran the numbers to purchase chemicals (and the issues with storage when buying in bulk).

I would have saved very little doing everything myself.

That said, take the class because you need to know what is happening with your system.
 
The vacuum thing is a matter that is going to be unique to your pool. Mine, for example, cloggs up with maybe a half cup of leaves. Experiment.

Plant matter is the single most important factor. Leaves mess with everything. Get the polaris and skimmer to work for you and you might not spend 5 hours/week ******* with the puddle.

I don't know how you can spend $70/month on chemicals. I spend about $25.
 
Unfortunately, no experience with Leslie, but I would call the local cement contractor and have them come fill that "dang" hole in my backyard. Pool maintenance vs. pool usage never equate, especially if you can afford one.

Former pool owner with large cement yard art.
 
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